Aerial photographic apparatus.



N; 1:. BROWN. AERIAL PHOTOG RAPHIG APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JIFFY1'7, 1909.

I Patented Sept. 12,1911. 1

To all whom may concern UNITED sTATEs-rg 1n1ij'ror1uon iu'r aun esensuem'vm emm.

it knownthat I, Na'r l nMaa' Baow -rii' o'fGrandjHaven, "in the countyofLOttawa and State: ofMichi a'n, have invente'd'cer tain new and'u efulV mprovements 'inAerial' Photographic Apparatus; and I do heredec1arethefollow1ngto be a full, clear, an exact-description of thesame, referenoe'be- "I-ing'Yhad "top. the accompanying. drawings, a

forming a 'pa'rt of the spec1fication, .a nd to the reference-numeralsmarked thereon,

' My presentinvention relates to the photo- "gIflph1C art and has torits "object to provide Tan :1 aratus ada ted'lforus. p libtographs-fi seler y in ta ng aerial 'ineansiQf-a kite string or a captive balloon, atelevation :above the snrfaceof n r o 1 hends"an-apparatus designed tobe'use in conjunctiontwith of camera of the usual or any preferredconstruction, and comprising;

' operatingi'meoh'anism, whereby the camera may be automaticallyrotated; successive portions of the sensitized photographic sure iiacebrought into exposure position and the shutter operated,itofenable oneor more no -atives to madeor pictures taken whi e' said-apparatus, andthe camera, are'out of, reachio f theoperator; and beyond his conp 1T6theseand-other. ends the invention con:

4 sists -in certain improvements and combine-- tionsof parts all as-will be hereinafter more 'fully descri ed, We lnovelgfeatures pointedout the claims of:

. specification; 7

In he partly in section showmgbne embodiment nfimeehanism-en ployed forcarrying out my View J -taken s w ng t siniil ar" viewfta h le esiniilarfreferenoe. numerals in; the several figures; indicate} similarputs. Y

' In aerial photohgmphy, which is the milk ing of photograp ",ic'negatives orthe taking of pictureset an 'el evat1on,;'it11s necessarytosupport the camera; box at-z'tlie desired-i-ele vation endaaone o fillustrating such" a support Iihfli shown int'th'e resentin stance alrite indicated 1 y rnorooaarnw' arrm'r'qs.

' "posit on flan e! Letters Patent P'atentgd Sept. 12, 1911..

Application nlaxui' 'k 1 190a. swarm. 503,11

" cifically my 'invention' com reI- ably made suive steps, sai

being preferablytaken after the operation I of-t e V step movement of,the camera is j controlled "'re is; an elevation nvention. Fig, a;horizontalwootional peinent, and ,-F-ig".1: 8} is a" apparatus in"coniunction with a camera comprises genera 1y .8 ension devices,adapted to be attachedjto t e kite strin or other support, at anydesired point, on w ich is mounted the camera box and the operatingmechanism for controlling the various operations which. successivelyoccur when it is' desired to make an exposure or a plurality ofexposures. The en orting device proper com rises a boom .2 w 1011 may beconnected to t e-Qkite string"- 1"by suitable fastening devices or ties3-3, referably arranged at its ends! Suspende at an intermediate mintand depending vertically from the such a length that it niay be Woundu'p,-beA forethe kite isfsent upby'the relative rotary emovement of theparts 4 and 6 andadaptedwhen released to revolveizthe'turntable, for

the purpose of rotating 'thecamera thereon, through one prn'ior'ecomplete revolutions.

. The rotar ;movement of the cameraisam' tomatically controlled intimerelationship 'tofthe p itioningqf the sensitized Photographicsurface-and the operation-of the s r mn x 3fQema1flnse p rw andIthe-of'jthe cainere' i's'i. refer shutter has occurred. Thisstep-bysteps by an e'scapementmechanism actuatedbyi" a lever 10attechedlto =farock shaft 11 pivoted on a-laterally'extending bracket 12onthe,

"sleevefi' and" carrying escapement arm's 13 and 14 having ends whichcoiiperate with a-disk 15 'igidl '1 attached-to the .r 4 a' ove thesleeve 6. I shaft 11 and is normally held in'engage'ment arm leispermitted to move on said ishaft,

' notches or teeth-formed in the pegyher" of].

he farm 13 is rigid ,Lonj the r with the disk by a coil spring 16, whilethe t in one direction, against the tensionof a leaf 2 spring 117 whichn rmally holds it en-- and eomprisea l t and 50 positioned as to limitthe movelucut of the arm in the other direction. The operating ends ofthe two arms; 13 and H are positioned relatively to each other and tothe notches in the dial; J? (as shown in l"ig.- -.,:o that when the rockshal't. is oscillated to diaengage the ar1 n 13 the turntable beingimpelled by the spring 2 may rotate the diatanec l'UlHt'ljtlllttl by thespaee between :uljaeei'i-t teeth and be. arrested by the arm ll whichis' 'held in eiigagement with the disk by t-1w'.- nag 17L The releasingof the .-;halt. l1 'pern'ii'tfs spring It} to move the arm lil'inw'arglly into the path of another tooth when'the stop projection 18engaging the arin '14-, trips it into position inreatlincsa'tocoiipei-ate'with the succeeding tooth or iiot eli oii the disk when 'theturntable is again releaed. l

The t vpe. :o't' eamera l have employed .tor the purpose otthe presentilluqatra'lion is of a term which mavhe inadelight. in weight 't-he boxit) in which are. arranged; at opposite side: the 'Mtpl'rol'ts forspools 3L 2; between which extends the phott-grap hic sensitizedsnrt'i'neor film .23. "he holding spool 21 is jplltiltllttl upon studsor supports, one. at which indicated at "it; while the winding spool 32is similarly journaled at 'its lower end on a centering .atudaud atitlwupper end has a winding key 2h. The latter is provided with a stemprojecting 'exteriorl v ot the ean'iera box and mounted tliereoniaratchel wheel 21' with which eutipeiz-itesra.' pawl 28 For the purposeM'- preveutiag lhe' haeltwaid movement of the l e thc extremitwot thehey stem is jourua'lml" in a braclv'et :29 and beneath the latteria'joiiri'ialed a reel m m flange of which providedwith a. pawl 31engaging a' ratchet wheel attached .to said stem and iulapte'd'to turnthe latter in the direction to wind the tilmon the spool 212. .\ttachedto the other flange-of said reel ismne,

cn'd ol a coil spring 33, the opposite extremity at which is connectedto thebr-aclwt n mamglea -lag is plaee jl under ten-- alon' when t thatm'mavetlidvl'iuilhig "iPtJOl llIL tension at the rin ac'tiiw'to returnthe ieelto its normal |')ti.\'lt lnl'l wlilai released. .f

i The camera hoii rovided witzl the usual l cna,--the pit. iil,'ra-ya'o'l light. therethroiigl'i lieitigl eoutr alle l by a i'vsuitable as: i'ndieated by ill. the

form ot' :iliul-tflzflileh actua'tiiig or settiiig'lbver of .wlueh. isindimited by .35. i i

The. devices em'plt xyed for eoifl-rolling the rot a -f movement oftheehlitter the shifting ol the sueeesaire"portions of t eqsensit'izedsurface'antl't hc lip en itWofl-the 'shutter, eoliuirise a 3 motormechanism lmonnted on the rod iid'inotor meeha i n being neetedby suitahle' 'oper-atin liieans w th the the eseapement coiitrolling lever .iereel is revolved in .t-h diree- I and the shutter wetting or actuatingmeniher Eli").

'lhe pre'l'errcd term of motor which I have found b v practice to hetltlll'lll'ttl)l adapted to the purpme described, on account of its:illlt])ll ll in coir-:truetion, as well a.- the extreme lightness ofits parts, GOIIIPL'lSQS generally an air t'an which positioned to bedriven by the current of air which, when theapparatua is al-ispended.from akite string. is always in thedireetien of said string. The fan isnmnnted to revolve freely and with little friction and on aceolint ofthe velocity with which it:- ordinarv wind pressure, great power u'raybedevelopet-l by a simple train; of multiplying gears, which will be morethan sutlicient to provide the necess'ary power required to etl'ect thevarious operations before desrri-bedi In the illustration Ihaveshown thefan l0 mounted upon an arbor l1 journalecl in suit- .able hearings upona frame piece 42 and provided with a worm gear 43 which imparts rotarymovement to a gear wheel ll.

The. latter is provided with a pinion 45 which in turn meshes with theteeth of a larger gear wheel 46. The arbor 47 of the 7 wheel $0 carriesa-drunr-l8 provided at. one

cud with ratchet; teeth 4%) with which eooperates the. pawl 50 pivotedon the iaee of the, gear wheel 46 and havmg a tall piece or-extren'ritv- 51. adapted to cooperate with a linger or an, lying in itspath and attae-l'ied t0 thebar it. Thepawl 50 is spring controlledandthe relative arrangement of its end 51 and the tripping linger 52 issuch that when the pawl has been disengaged from the-. teeth 44) and thedrum 8 relea it-d the gear wheel 46 may continue to 1' Live, and as thismovementis conumrati-vel low, ampleop1.)ortunit.y is afl orded topernntthe druur to rotate in the reverse direction for the purpose ofunwinding the e-ord-oreon- 1ieetit 11, 'previoiis]v woundthereon,andavhen the pawl has passed the linger, it will be released andthe drum again looked to the gear wheel. I

A; simple form of operating connection between the power devices' ormotor mechanism may he made. by employing a et-irdait-l attached at.-its .o .)pos.ite extremities tofthe drum 4S 'and m, the reel 30, said.cm'd -lie.i1-|g guided by an idler 5-1 at-taehcd to the sleeve ti, itsupper streteh passing thrt'iugh the sleeve. and the tubular end-of thered -l. 111 other cord 55 is connected to the shutter setting oropera-ting lever 35 and extends upwardh passineoven guiding pulleys 56and 5.7 and throng 1 aniaperture in the-end of theesQapeijne-nteon-trolling arm 10. This cord is'of .'a. predeterniinedlength and is spliced into the iitljamis eft-he cord .53, at apoint indieii-tedliffiti, in'such position that; when the cord 53hasiben' wound on thereel 48,

- been moved in and the desired length of fihn or photd. graphicsensitized. surface has been drawn into exposure position, the cord 55will have tb-the position shown in'full lines-moving the shutter settingor operating lever into actuated position, operating the shutter bladesand making an exposure. The relative arr ligament of these-parts is suchthat the expbsure is made just previous to the releasing of the pawl andalt-hou 'h the sensitized surface may be moving at t io instant theexposure occurs, this produces no noticeable effect in the negative dueto its slow movement during the short duration of theexposure and theshort angular distance through which said surface, may travel ascompared with the focal distance of the object photo' aphed. A,knot orenlargement 57 is plii ced in the .cord in position to engage the arm 10and the continued winding movement of the drum 48 causes arm tobe'actuated to release the turn.- I

said table after the exposure has been. made. Insomeinst-ances,especially when photographs are to'be takenat aconsiderable elevation, it is desirable to point'the camera in adownward direct-ion so that-it assumes more. or less'o f an angle to thehorizontal and to accom lish this I insert between the turntable orliead- 5 and the camera box a wedge-shaped filling piece 58, or thecamera may be adjusted at the desired angle by means ofthe fasteningdevices or securing 'screws 59. 1

By means of mechanism constructed in accordance with my invent-ion it ispossible to take pictures at any desired elevation and permitting thelatter f0 11 it era fromswin porting of the ca possessesthe-adv =1,

cords as opera ing .a series of such ictures may be made successively.The s utter being operated succemivelv; as the various steps in themovement 0 the camera occur, a plurality of ictures will be obtainedshowing the comp etc horizon, or such portions thereof as the operatormay desire to photograph.

An advantageous arrangement of the parts the manner shown, as the cameramay be positioned with,., its center of gravity-in line with thejuspension bar 4' 2g vertically and the weight being at the 10,, or endof the'bar tends tosteady it, us preventing the camvlif brating. Thesupm 1111' this .manner also tageiofreducing the friction between theing bar, thuspc v tated easily, I-- ting the use of a.heavy or powerfulsprin;for-'this purpose. Further this arrangemi t also permits the useof connections between the arts actuated greatly simp ifies theconapparatus as a whole, as cased-through the hollow motor mechanism andthe wlii he y be id hub the ,Q

.connecting the of means connecting is brought adjusted osition, ofmechanism in the m winding. la and shutter, sa1

rntabe and the tubula'r end of the bar in which position said operatingconnections do not in any wayinterfere with the rotary movement of thecamera.

I claim as my invention: y .1. In aerial photographic apparatus, thcombination with a support, abamera having a shutter, and meansconnecting the camera and an port'permitt" the rotary niovement of t 'eformer on by a stepby-step movement and mechanism for operatingthe-shutter in timed relation to 'each movement-of the camera.

2. Inv aerial-photographic apparatus, the combination with'a; support,-acamera provided with a shutter, and means connecting t e latter, of jmeans for revolving the camera the camera and support of means forrevolving the camera an shutter successively at various pointsduring thecomplete rotation of the camera.

3. In aerial photographic apparatus, the

mechanism operated in timed relation therewith for operating. the

combination with a support, a camera havr ing supports for a sensitizedsurface and devices or moving successive portions of the surface into exos'ure position, said camera being also provided with a shutter, ofmeans camera and sup ort, :me ans. the camera on its supportp oractuating the sensitive surface moving devices relatively to the move;ment. of the camera andalso o rati the shutter to successively expose te di erent portions of the sensitized surface. r

.4. In aerial photographic apparatus, the

combination with a support, a camera hav-- for revolvin mechamsm ingsupports for a sensitized surface and devices for moving successiveportions thereof into exposure position and a'shutter, the camera andsup:- port, means for rotating step-by-step movement mechanism. foroperating the devices whic move the sitized surface and means for tri p'shutter and releasing the camera or. oessiveste which are actuated eachunexposed, portion ofthe sensitized into exposure position.

'5. In aerial photographic appatus, the combination with a support, 11'ca: era comprising supportsfor sensitized in "devices or winding thelatter, and'a shutter, means connect'. the for rotatlng the. camera inone its support and "a. latch for holding it-fiin for actuatdevices, themechanism be so". he latch and shutter m:

arrangedtha actuated sac I lengthof ithe sensitized filmihas been inexposure. posit-iolc' I 6 In aerialsupport" fa. camerafcomthe camera bya camera and suptpprtyuneans u-ectmn on p nne aftena hotoga v phicapparatus, combination "will;

devices for moving successive portions thereof into exposure positionand a shutter,

'of means connectingthe camera and support, means for revolving thecamera, cooperating members arranged between the support and cameraforcausi-ng-the movement of the latter to botaken vloy successive steps,one of said members being movable, motor mechanism for operatingthe'devices for moving the sensitive surface and connections betweensaid motor mechanism and the movable camera controlling member and theshutter for actuating thenrperiodically relatively to 'the movement ofthe-sensitized surface. z I

' 7,111 aerial photographic apparatus, the combination with a boom, asuspended rod pivoted thereon and Ya roll. film holding camera,embodying filmwinding devices and a shutter, means suspending the camerafrom the rod, means for revolving the camera and devices for controllingits movevment, of a motor mounted on therod and operating connectionsbetween the motor, the devices controlling,the movement of the cameraand the shutter. r'

8. In aerial photographic apparatus, the combination with a support, acamera having sensitized film winding mechanism and exposure devices,means connecting the camera and support ofa m(. tormechanism' alsomounted on the support above the camera, and means operativelyconnectingthe Winding .1necl1ani-sm and exposure devices for actuating thenn 9.Inaeria-I photographic a1 1 )aratus,--thc combination with a support, acamera having sensitized film ,windi ng devices and devices formakingphotographic exposures thereon, meansconnectmg the camera andsupportof a wind m0tor andimechanism drlven thereby for actuatmg'thewinding and exposure devices.

10. In aerial photographic apparatus, the combination with a support, a,ca1 nera hav ing sensitized film. winding, devices and devices formaking an exposure thereof,

aneans connecting, the camera and support means torrotating the cameraolrthe'sup port and .an escapement controlling said rotation, of a indmotor, mechanism op; 'erated thereby and an o )erating' connectionbetween the'latter and the Winding devices, another connectionbet-weensaid iimchanism and. the exposure devices, one of said.connections beingalso arranged to cooperate with the escapemcnt,

it. Inaerial photographic a1')1')aratus,'the combination with a support,a camera hav ingserisitizod film winding devices and; a

shutter, of means connecting the camera and support, a wind motor,-mechanism driven thereby co nprisinga reel andpords .eXtend-, ing fromthe reel and connectedto the, wind? I inn devices and shutter.

, motor. and the 12. In aerial photographic appara.tus,'the combinatloirwith a .-support, a camera,

-means connecting it to the support and a motor mechanism also mounted.on the slipport and comprising a reel, ofdevices on the camera forwindingsensitized film embodying a reel, a cord coi'inccting the tworeels, a camera shutter and operating connection between it. and themotor mechanism.

13. in aerial photographicapparatus, the combination with a tubularsupport, a camera, means (ZOIH'lGttllHg it to the suppi'irt and a motormrchanism also mounted onthe support and comprising 'a' reel, of devicesfor winding sensitized photographic film contained in the camera alsoembodying a reel. a cord connecting-"the motor reel and winding real andpassingthrough these-pport, a. camera shutter havingan.opcratii'ig'membcr and another cord connecting-the latter to the motor reel." 7 14.In aerial photographic aIpparatus,t-he combination with. a verticallyextending rod,

a camera, means for attaching'it to the" zlower end of the rod with itscenter of gravity arranged in approxin'ia'te alineinent with saidsupport, said camera cinbodjnup,- film holding'and winding devicesand-ashutter, of a motor nicchanisurattached tow said support. above thecan'iera, and ope atien" connections betwecn thennitor, the film wvmdmgdev ces and shutter. r

1?). in aerial photographic apparatus,th

combination with a vertically extending...

support, a turntable journaled onits-lower cud,- mcans for rotating theiurutable-ai'ul an escapcment controllingrsaid rotary morement, of acamera attached to the turntable having film winding '(glQViCLSi-Lll'lilaslruti'er, a motor IHOCllHlllSll'] mounted on the support and deviceso| )cra.ted by saidmechanisn'i it'or actuatin .Lhe winding devices, theshutter and escapmncnt.

16. The combimition witlra camera :hav- .ing liln winding devices.comprisinga reel, of a continuously ()[XJtliilllg motor'mcclranismembodying a reel, a cord connecting the two reels and adapted to d: irethe w in reel. as it is unwound the fe'l'rom the motor driven reel, atrip for reic min-g the latter periodically and a spring' fo-r rotatingthe Winding-reel to rewind the cord tl'iereoi'i when theniotor reelisreleased.

17. In aerial photographic. apparatus, the

combination with a supportadapted to be -.sus|')ended froina kitestringiand a can'iera having film. winding devices and a slmttcr, ofmeans connecting the camera and sup-' port, awind motor mounted. on thesupport comprising a fan so disposed as to face in the direction ofthe'supporting kite string and operating connections between said film.winding devices and ishutten a 18. In aerial photographic apparatus, the

combination with a support, a camera, means rotatably connecting thecamera and support, means for rotating the camem and coi'ili'ollingdevices for causingsaid morei'ooi'it to be taken in successive steps, ofa wind motor and power multiplying mechenism driven thereby forautomatically uc-- 2G waiting seicl controlling devices.

NAT ELMER BROYVN.

Witnesses:

C. P. Conunn, ADRIANA GLENN.

